Come Spring 2013, he’s set to release his long-awaited solo instrumental album, Thanks for Trying, something that he calls his “magnum opus”, on the prestigious BBE Records. Here, he digs out some of the vinyl that’s made him who he is today.

Indo Jazz Fusions 2 by Joe Harriott & John MayerMy dad gave me this record when I was too young to really understand what a fusion of anything really was. The mix of jazz and Indian instruments blew my mind, in the same way I’m sure this record blew his way back when it was released. I sampled the shit out of it, obviously.

Babylon – The Original SoundtrackVarious
Jeez! This has to be one of the best reggae-related soundtracks ever made. The Dennis Bovell original score tracks are so unbelievable I’ve lost weeks listening to them. Serious dubbed-out madness. I sampled it on my first-ever release when I was sixteen, which surely was about fifty years ago now. I forget.

RespirationBlack Star
This is one of those songs I never know whether to cry or punch someone to. There is more emotion in this one song than any human can comprehend. The production is galactically incredible.

WordsearchThe Last Skeptik
Well, this was my first-ever release on vinyl. I was at university at the time, and had thought my entire life that my biggest dream was to have a song on wax. I got it. I Ran to the uni radio station, and the moment the needle touched the record I knew I had to try and set myself bigger dreams. Moral of the story: don’t have dreams.

Shut ‘Em Down (Remix)Public Enemy
Those horns! Those Pete Rock adlibs! This shit right here changed the whole game. It’s one of, if not the best remix of ANYTHING. For the simplicity, the swing of the drums and Flav’s adlibs. I spent years copying the filtered bass line and horn decay.

Sinatra at the SandsFrank Sinatra
If you don’t like Sinatra, you’re a dick. This guy has to be the most listened-to dude on my iTunes. I listen whatever mood I’m in and this album in particular has got me through a lot. Quincey Jones produced it. Count Basie plays on it. And Frank has more swag than any rapper out today. Big band ftw.

SuicideStray
Stray were a little-known 1970s prog rock band that my dad was really into, so I inherited these quite rare copies of the records (ha, and you won’t get ’em back now!). The Suicide album is perfect in every way. Completely bonkers and each song switches eight billion times within itself. When I heard this, in some weird way it taught me never to settle on one loop. Always make all your songs textured, layered and constantly changing.

As a HUCK exclusive, have a listen to Park Champ, the first leaked track from The Last Skeptik’s new cinematically epic solo album, Thanks for Trying, out on April 29 on BBE Records.